Aug25

on the 110th anniversay of the U.S. National Parks.

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Some of the country’s first park rangers were Buffalo Soldiers, African Americans who served in all-Black U.S. Army regiments starting in 1866. When Yellowstone and several other national parks were being established near the end of the century, the Department of the Interior quickly realized they needed protection.

So the U.S. Army stepped in as park rangers for Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks between 1891 and 1913, and the 24th Infantry became the first regiment of Buffalo Soldiers to take on the role when they began serving at Yosemite in 1899. In 1903, Captain Charles Young, the highest-ranking African American U.S. Army officer at the time, also became the first African American to be named the acting superintendent of Sequoia National Park.

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‘There is nothing so American as our national parks.

The scenery and the wildlife are native. The fundamental idea behind the parks is native.

It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people,

that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.

The parks stand as the outward symbol of the great human principle.’

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

 

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photo credit: National Park Service, Buffalo  Soldiers

Thomas Moran painting – Yellowstone Park

source credit: History Magazine, National Geographic

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52 responses »

  1. You have some wonderful national parks that are rightly the envy of the rest of the world. Unfortunately, Trump seems set to dismantle that wonderful heritage. Something else he is intent on ruining.
    Best wishes, Pete.

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  2. Yes, unfortunately Pete is right. We have a wealth of national parks from the vast western lands to Independence National Park in Philadelphia. And they’re all being destroyed by this administration so he and his cronies can get richer.

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  4. I’ve only been to Everglads National Park. Even there, i think the administration is removing certain projections for economic exploration.
    The national parks need to he preserved.
    Thanks for the history lesson, Beth.

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    • yes, indeed, so incredibly important. yes, this administration does not value them except for what is on and under the land that they can take. there is a group of Nat Park progressive workers/scientists/environmental group of people who have formed their own group to fight for the parks – the alternative national park service, check them out if you get a chance ourparks.org

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  5. National and state/provincial parks are community treasures – and a lifesaver for those who crave nature and need economical travel options. I’m thankful for them in Canada and I look forward to visiting the US ones one day!

    When I was in San Fran in 2011 with my in-laws and hubby, I got to visit the Redwood forest and my goodness, those trees are simply magnificent and majestic.

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  9. I’ve never seen this Roosevelt quote. What a beautiful way to sum up exactly what these spaces mean to us.

    This week the National Parks Conservation Association is coordinating support for the parks. npca.org has the details for each state. It also has a take action link at the top that helps you send a message to Congress.💛

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  11. oh, i so wish the current administration acted in concert with the Roosevelt. I do fear for our national parks and all the hard-working park employees right now. The parks truly are a treasure and need to be protected.

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    • in light of what’s happening now, it’s more important than ever – there is a group of National Park heroes, employees who are fighting to preserve them -Alternative National Park. ourparks.org

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    • absolutely – check out the Alternative National Park group – a group of Nat Park employees/scientists progressives who still post and are fighting the fight – ourparks.org. they are amazing

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